Rooney cooly slots home No.2 to seal the three points for United Wayne Rooney topped 20 Premier League goals for only the second time in his career to put Manchester United back in the place where he expects them to stay. The frontman’s expert finishing proved the difference against Roy Hodgson’s battlers as they overtook Manchester City, who crashed ato a 1-0 reverse at Swansea, at the top with a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man West Brom.
Ominously, this is the period where United boss Sir Alex Ferguson demands championship form from his side and they delivered after a patchy start. Albion had never won a Premier League game at Old Trafford but their recent form has struck fear among managers.
Wins over Wolves and Chelsea saw Mick McCarthy and Andre Villas-Boas ousted and the Baggies support joked that Fergie was “getting sacked in the morning”. But it was no laughing matter for the Scot when the visitors almost took the lead in the fifth minute.
Phil Jones was mugged off the ball by Chris Brunt and when Liam Ridgewell found space on the left his low ball was steered wide by an unmarked Keith Andrews. But for another example of David de Gea’s brilliance in the 17th minute, Albion would have been in front. The Spanish keeper, finally finding his feet and form after a torrid start, stretched to push away a low drive from Andrews and United eventually clicked into gear.
A sweeping, scintillating move, led by Patrice Evra’s skilful charge from the back, saw Ashley Young pick out the run of Rooney but his volley lacked power to trouble Foster. But, with the frontman and Paul Scholes becoming more influential, the opener did follow in the 35th minute. Scholes found Javier Hernandez on the right and Rooney ghosted in superbly to flick the resulting cross past Foster.
There was relief at the break and so too in the second half. After Peter Odemwingie had a penalty claim turned down for a trip by Evra, United’s response was swift. Hernandez rapped the post before Rooney’s overhead kick was held by Foster.
A glorious long ball from Scholes then saw both Hernandez and Danny Welbeck in behind the defence, but the latter somehow steered it past Foster and the post.
But United’s task got much easier in the 66th minute when Albion defender Jonas Olsson was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Hernandez. After that, it was a procession of home chances and only a matter of time before the champions confirmed victory.
And fittingly it was the impressive Young and Rooney involved for the second goal in the 71st minute. Young was pushed over by Andrews in the box and the striker coolly slotted home the spot-kick for his ninth goal in the last six games. Rooney and United will take some stopping now now.